Top Stories this week: Wednesday, April 4, 2007

New parking lot opens in Holmes Beach
Visitors to the Manatee Public Beach last week found a new location to park their vehicles after the public parking lot at the beach quickly filled to capacity on many days. The right of way along Manatee Avenue was apparently a convenient spot for a new - if only temporary - parking lot. Islander Photo: Rick Catlin

Holmes Beach officer injured in shooting

An off-duty Holmes Beach police officer suffered a minor fragment wound during a shooting near his home in east Manatee County.

An effort by Anna Maria City Commissioner Jo Ann Mattick to purchase the undeveloped 1.5 acres owned by Harry and Karen Lockwood at 703 N. Shore Drive through a Florida Communities Trust grant and turn the property into a public park has apparently fallen flat after some of the Lockwood's neighbors vilified the couple for even considering such a sale.

Bayflite Air Medical Transport pays yet another visit Sunday afternoon to the field adjacent to Holmes Beach City Hall to carry a patient to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Holmes Beach police, West Manatee Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services responded to the call for help in the 500 block of Bayview Drive. There emergency workers found a 58-year-old man, who had fallen on his back while trimming trees from a ladder at least 12 feet high, said WMFR Capt. Tom Sousa. A WMFR incident report said the man was conscious, but with limited vision. He was stabilized by medics, who then transferred care from their ambulance to the helicopter medics, who quickly took the patient to BMC's trauma unit. The man's condition was not known at press time. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy

Building official nominees line up for Bradenton Beach postBy Paul Roat

There are some familiar faces within the ranks of applicants for the building official position in Bradenton Beach.

The latest changes to the construction project on the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach were obviously a bit more tasty to city commissioners, with costs coming in a bit under the anticipated amounts.

The Citizens Against Runaway Taxation will meet with the general public at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, at the Holmes Beach City Hall to update Islanders on the latest tax relief proposals before the Florida Legislature.

Following a failed effort to market its Island properties through a local real estate company, bankrupt GSR Development LLC is now seeking court approval to sell its extensive real estate holdings through public auctions. The company had previously proposed such a sale through the international auction firm of GoIndustry Michael Fox, but withdrew the proposal on March 2 in hopes the real estate marketing effort would produce sales.

Insurance: Will law revisions help or hurt policyholders?By Molly McCartney. Islander Reporter

Look for state lawmakers to correct before the current legislative session ends in May what they say are mistakes or inconsistencies in the new state insurance law. The question is whether the changes they make are going to help or hurt policyholders.

Look for state lawmakers to correct before the current legislative session ends in May what they say are mistakes or inconsistencies in the new state insurance law. The question is whether the changes they make are going to help or hurt policyholders.

Top Notch: First weekly winner also 2006 grand prize winner
The grand prize winner from among six weekly award-winning photos in the 2006 "Top Notch" Islander photo contest is 'Hermit' by Kim Klement of Bradenton. Her shot was the first winner on June 28 and was taken at Andros Island in the Bahamas in May. She can claim her grand prize, including $100 from The Islander, a dining certificate from Ooh La La! Bistro, a bottle of champagne from Anna Maria Island Liquor and Wine, dinner for two at a Chiles Group Restaurant and framing of the winning photo by Decor and More. Congratulations to all the winners - and be watching next week for our featured runnersup.

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